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The newly appointed Permanent Secretary, Kogi State Ministry of Information and Communications, Mr. Awulu Tijani David, has pledged his support for information officers in the state, stressing that effective information management is essential to the successful implementation and communication of government policies.
Awulu made the commitment on Wednesday, September 2, 2026, when the newly elected executives of the Nigerian Union of Journalists (NUJ), State Information Chapel, led by their Chairman, Mr. Solomon Musa, paid him a courtesy visit in his office in Lokoja.
The visit was also aimed at formally introducing the new chapel executives to the Permanent Secretary, who is the Chief Accounting Officer of the ministry.
The Permanent Secretary described leadership as both a privilege and a responsibility entrusted to individuals by those they represent. He therefore urged the new NUJ leadership to justify the confidence members had placed in them through their election.
“People trusted and elected you. It is my prayer that you succeed better than those who have been there before you,” he said.
Awulu urged the executives to remain accountable, trustworthy and committed to the welfare and professional advancement of members, noting that the record of every individual entrusted with responsibility would ultimately speak for them.
He assured the chapel of his readiness to work with its leadership to advance the information profession in Kogi State.
The Permanent Secretary particularly highlighted the strategic role of information officers in government, describing them as the “eyes” of the Ministry of Information and Communications and critical actors in communicating government policies, programmes and achievements to the public.
He stressed that the effectiveness of the ministry depended significantly on the ability of its information officers to perform their responsibilities effectively, adding that the ministry’s leadership must provide an enabling environment and the necessary support for them to succeed.
“If the Ministry of Information does not do whatever it will take to make the information officers work well, then what are we here for? You are the eyes of the Ministry of Information. Without you, the ministry cannot do anything,” he stated.
Awulu encouraged the chapel leadership to communicate its needs and challenges to his office, promising that matters within his authority would receive prompt attention, while issues requiring higher-level intervention would be appropriately referred. 
He further assured members that his office would remain accessible to them, describing the ministry as their home.
“This is your office; it is your home. Whenever you need the office to intervene, call on me. I don’t know everything that you do, and I am not a journalist; I am an administrator. That is why I need people to advise me,” he said.
The Permanent Secretary also cautioned against viewing his appointment as an elevation above other members of the service, stressing that any officer could eventually attain a similar position of responsibility.
He commended the Chairman of the NUJ Information Chapel, Solomon Musa, whom he described as a humble and experienced professional with a good understanding of the information business.
Awulu also promised to support programmes aimed at improving the professional capacity and welfare of information officers, urging the chapel to submit its proposals formally for consideration.
Earlier, Musa said the courtesy visit was undertaken to formally introduce the newly elected executives to the Permanent Secretary and seek the support of the ministry for the chapel’s programmes and activities.
He introduced the executives, including Vice Chairman, Mrs. Olajumoke Ajani, a State Information Officer with the Ministry of Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs; Secretary, Miss Gloria Amodu, State Information Officer with the Ministry of Works; Treasurer, Mr. Salau Ibrahim of SEMA; Financial Secretary, Mrs. Mariam Tenimu, State Information Officer with the Ministry of Environment; and Auditor, Mr. Abah Benjamin Eneojoh Treasure, State Information Officer at Government House.
Musa said the new leadership was committed to strengthening unity, professional development and collaboration among information officers across ministries, departments and agencies.
He also appealed for continued support from the ministry for the chapel’s annual professional and social programme, which brings together serving and retired information officers, including former Permanent Secretaries and Directors who served in the information sector.
According to him, the inaugural edition held last year provided an opportunity for retired senior officers to share their experiences with younger colleagues, thereby promoting knowledge transfer and professional mentorship.
He said the chapel planned to make this year’s edition bigger and more impactful, with activities including a visit to an orphanage, sporting events and professional lectures designed to strengthen members’ capacity.
Musa further sought the ministry’s support for the proposed enrolment of chapel members into the Nigerian Institute of Public Relations (NIPR), noting that the proposal had previously been discussed with relevant authorities.
The chapel’s Auditor, Abah Benjamin Eneojoh, also appealed to the Permanent Secretary to serve as a fatherly figure and strategic partner to the chapel, stressing that the support of the ministry’s leadership would be critical to the success of its programmes.
Eneojoh called for sustained government investment in State Public Relations Officers and other information professionals, arguing that adequately supported officers would be better positioned to communicate government policies and achievements effectively to the public.
He also commended the Commissioner for Information and Communications, Hon. Kingsley Femi Fanwo, for his consistent support for the chapel’s activities and commitment to the rebranding and repositioning of Kogi State through effective communication.
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